Flashlights



' J. RIOTTO Dec. 6, 1955 FLASHLIGHTS Filed Feb. 6, 1953 ATTO RNEY United States Patent FLASHLIGHTS Joseph Riotto, Brooklyn, N. Y..

Application February=6, 1953, Serial No. 335,573

2 Claims. (Cl.,240.-10.6)

My invention relates to an improvement in flashlights and has for one of its objects to provide a flashlight which is of new and novel construction so as to enlarge its field of usefulness beyond that of similar devices of prior construction.

Generally speaking, my invention provides a flashlight in which a plurality of electric bulbs are employed, as distinguished from the conventional single bulb, these being arranged about the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. These additional bulbs have their own switch mechanism, so that they are operable independently of the central bulb, enabling the flashlight to be operated in the usual way or as a lantern, the housing or head of the flashlight being of translucent material about its sides, so that the rays from the additional bulbs will be projected through the sides of the housing instead of through its end.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. l is a sectional elevational view of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of my device;

Fig. 3'is a section on the line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 2 designates the metal case of my improved device, this case comprising a shank, a cap 6 for the outer end of the case, and a head 8. The head 8 is rolled to provide threads 10.

Within the head 8, across the bottom thereof, is an insulating disc or plate 12, which is held in place by a snap ring 14, which engages the side walls of the head 8.

The insulating disc 12 carries a central hollow contact member 16, which extends through the insulating disc, so that its lower end will contact the center terminal 18 of the inner battery 20 within the casing 2 from which the device is to receive its energy.

Secured to the upper face of the insulating disc 12, at each side of the contact member 16, are two bent spring contact arms 22 and 24. It is to be noted that these arms are so disposed upon the insulating disc that one end of each arm always engages the contact member 16.

Set into the threaded upper end of the head 8 and insulated therefrom is a sheet metal member providing reflectors 26 and 28 and sockets 30 and 32 for lateral bulbs 34 and 36. As will be apparent from the drawings, the sockets 30 and 32 overlie the laterally disposed contact arms 22 and 24, so that, when the bulbs 34 and 36 are in place, they will always engage the spring contact arms. As will be seen from the drawings, the reflectors 26 and 28 are so shaped that the light rays from the bulbs 34 and 36 will be reflected outwardly to one side of the longitudinal axis of the flashlight.

The reflector 38 for the central bulb 40 and the socket 42 for this bulb are integral with each other and are centrally disposed with respect to the metal member above referred to, which provides the lateral reflectors 26 and 28, a rubber grommet 39 being interposed between.

44 designates a contact rod, the lower end of which extends into the center contact member 16, the upper end extending upwardly of the flashlight as viewed in Fig. 1 through the center of the member providing-the.

lateral reflectors 26 and 28 but out of contact with the reflector members. This contact member is spring-loaded by spring 46, and its upper or outer end projects beyond therefiectormember sufiiciently to make contact with the center contact of center bulb 40 when the latter is in place in its socket 42.

Screwed upon the head 8 of the flashlight case is a housing 48, preferably of translucentplastic, although any other suitable material may be used.

The combined reflector and lamp socket for the center bulb '40 are set into the top of this housing and are readily held in place by lens 50, which may be of glass or plas: tic, as desired. I

The circuit for the central bulb is conveniently controlled by switch 52, mounted on the flashlight case, the ground rod 54 being attached to this switch and movable endwise when the switch is closed to contact the reflector 38. This rod passes loosely through reflector 26, as will be seen from Fig. 4.

The circuit for the lateral bulbs 34 and 36 is controlled by a similar switch 56, the ground rod 58 of this switch being movable endwise when the switch is operated to contact reflector 26.

In addition to all of the foregoing, my improved flashlight is provided with a device whereby the flashlight may be made to stand upon a table or other support when both hands are in use. This device comprises spring arms 60, which are pivoted at their upper end to the case of the flashlight, as seen at 62. The tension of the arms is suflicient to enable the arms to be retained at any angle desired with respect to the case 2, so that the flashlight will be supported at any desired angle. When the brace or arms are not in use, they may be closed upon the case 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

From all of the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a flashlight which is novel in its construction in that the same may be used as a flashlight in the conventional way or as a lantern when desired or as the two combined. It is to be observed that the reflectors for the several light bulbs are so arranged that the light rays from the lateral bulbs 34 and 36 will be projected laterally from the head of the flashlight through the translucent housing 48 and are prevented from issuing through the end of the flashlight by the central reflector 38.

It will be seen that my improved device is simple in construction, so that it may readily be disassembled and assembled for replacement of the light bulbs, etc.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the details of my construction and arrangement of parts within the pnrviewof the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a case, including a head; an insulating disc carried by the said head; a snap ring for holding the disc in place; a central contact carried by said disc; a battery in said case, said contact constantly engaging the central terminal of said battery; a pair of contact arms mounted upon said disc and constantly engaging said central contact; an element providing a pair of opaque reflectors and a pair of bulb sockets secured to said head in such position that a bulb in each of said sockets will engage a contact arm; a housing of light-transmitting material carried by the said head whereby light rays from said bulbs will be projected by said reflectors through the housing laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight, the end of said housing being provided with an aperture, a central opaque reflector and bulb socket in said aperture,

2,726,321 Patented Dec. 6, 1 955.-

in-pl&ee;-a-spring-loaded-centaet--rod-extendingfrem-thesaid central contact and through the first-mentioned reflector-socket element so as tobe engaged by the terminal ofa-Tiiilbinsaid eiitral soekefi and stvitehifig n'ieclianisni carr ed by said ca's for c'on't rolli'ti'g' tliecircuits of the flishli'g'h b 2. A flashlight comprising, in combination; a' flashlight disc and engagi'riga trrflifial ofsiai'd battery; a pair of Contact afrhsihouritd upon said disc" in engagement with thBfiisf-rriention'edcontact; a rri'er'nher providing a pair of reflectors and apair of lamp-sockets meumed in said headabove said disc, said reflectors and lamp sockets beingpositioned at each side of the axis of said case, and the References='Cifd il'l' the file of this patent UNITED "STATES PEKTEFITS 1,237,191 Friend Aug. 14, 1917 1,363,664 Livingston Dec. 28, 1920 1,832,443 Barany Nov. 17, 1931 2,137,230 Arden Nov. 22} 1938 2,261,001 Oct-l '28; 1931 2,566,280 A'Ug.i28, 195 1 

